Driving-gear for velocipedes.



Patented Sept. Il, |900.

(Application med Dec. 28, 1897.)

(No Modal.)

wAsn

UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES COTTRELL, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ALFRED HENRY SMITH, OF SAME PLACE.

DRIVING-G EAR FOR VELOCIPEDES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 657,859, dated September 11, 1900.

Application led December 28, 1897. Serial No. 664,071. tNo model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES OOTTEELL, a subject of the Queen of the United Kingdom'of Great Britain and Ireland, formerly of No.

- are to be taken as part of this specification and read therewith, and one which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The purpose of my invention is to give the rider of velocipedes greater control over the action of the cranks used forpropelling,where by a continuous driving power can be transmitted; and it consists in giving a slower downward stroke to the cranks in proportion to the upward stroke, by which means I obtain a longer period or time for the pressure of the foot or power to be exerted and a shorter period or time for the upward or unused stroke. The upward stroke being the faster it will travel through a greater arc or distance in the same time than the downward or slower stroke travels and will thereby overlap what are termed the dead-centers and get in a position for use before the downward stroke is completed, Figure l, faster stroke a, slower stroke b, allowing the use of a continuous propelling power and enabling the velocipede to be started in motion at any part of the stroke.

In carrying my invention into practice I connect the action of the cranks and other fittings, hereinafter described, to the hubof the ordinary7 or the chain wheel of a safety type of machine by links, Fig. 2, c c

the variation in the radius requiring the use of slots or connecting-links, as before described. I make the hub of the ordinary or the chain-wheel of a safety type of machine to turn on a bearing of diameter large enough to admit of the crank-spindle passing through at about half an inch, more o1' less, out of the true center of the said hub or chain-wheel, Fig. 3, the cranks to be fitted one on a tube, Fig. 3, F, and the other to a taper-spindle to allow of adjustment, Fig. 3, G. Attached to the tube is an arm II, Figs. 2 and 3, to connect the action of the crank F with the chainwheel by the aforesaid links o, Fig. 2.

Fig. 3 gives a general section showing how the bearings, tube, and spindle are placed and fitted.

Although no part of the invention, ballbearings may be iitted to the wearing parts,`

.I AMES COTTRELL.

lVitnesses:

Roer. A. BLAKE, R. A. SMITH. 

